Agenda item

2019-20 Quarter 1 Finance and Performance Improvement Report & ‘Delivering for Doncaster’ Booklet

Minutes:

Debbie Hogg, Director of Corporate Resources presented the headline information from the report informing the Committee that 72% of performance indicators were Green or Amber and there was a projected £1.1m underspend. This reflected a positive position for the Council. The style of the report had also been changed to provide a more succinct summary.

 

Connected Council

 

Members asked how effectively the Council was working with the Department for Works and Pensions to support claimants as Council tax support could not be processed until Universal credit applications had been processed. It was confirmed regular meetings were taking place with the DWP to identify opportunities for improving the flow of information with the Council to ensure Council tax support applications could be processed as quickly as possible.

 

Living

 

Members enquired about the actions being taken to reduce instances of fly tipping. It was reported this had improved over the last quarter and was being addressed as a whole system issue focussing on prevention, education and enforcement. It was also reported that there had been an inconsistency in how the Household Waste Recycling Centres were accepting some items of waste. This had been addressed by managers going on site and speaking to staff to ensure a more consistent approach across the Borough.

 

Members noted that whilst the target for grass cutting had been met there was a concern that this had not been sufficient over the summer months due to the weather conditions. It was reported that plans were in place to consider a more flexible approach in future that was more responsive to the needs of the communities.

 

Caring

 

Members enquired about the actions being taken to improve assessment times. It was reported there had been more demand on the service and whilst there was no specific issues with front line staff, there was a need to improve and simplify the approach of updating the casework report system and in supporting front line staff.

 

Phil Holmes confirmed the need to support and develop capacity for early intervention and to work effectively with partners to identify early those people in communities who will need help in future.

Members sought confirmation of the number of personal assistants being employed through direct payments. Phil Holmes confirmed he would provide this information to the Committee outside of the meeting.

 

Members enquired about initiatives in place to encourage less reliance on residential care. Members were informed this involved providing the right advice and information early to those who required it and providing the right information about the types of support in the community. It was reported that more work would be undertaken to reach people with the right information and advice before they reach the point of crisis.

 

Learning

 

Members asked how effectively absences in schools were being monitored. Members were informed of the complex relationships between the local authority who hold the statutory duty and the academies. Termly meetings with the Chief Executives of the Multi academy Trusts were being held and these had been helpful in highlighting the issues identifying support mechanisms, and providing peer challenge from other schools. This had resulted in a more positive direction of travel moving forward.

 

Members enquired about the numbers of special educational needs or disadvantaged children who needed support in encouraging positive attendance at school. It was reported that the Schools’ Forum challenged absence in the Borough and this wide engagement enables the Council to identify information in respect of the types of exclusion and information across protected and vulnerable groups.

 

Members asked when they would see an improvement in respect of the indicator that measures access to good or better education and referred to school Ofsted ratings being used as the measure. Members identified that the Ofsted rating could be affected by a number of non-attainment issues such as governance. The Committee requested details of each schools’s last Ofsted result and the grade in respect of teaching and learning to be brought back in 4 weeks’ time as a report for the CYP Panel. Whilst acknowledging this point the Committee was informed that the provisional outcome of 2019 exam results indicated an improving trajectory for educational attainment.

 

In respect of school attendance, the meeting was informed that the Local authority gives very specific advice and guidance about absence for specific reasons however; the Headteacher or the Chief Executive of the Trust can make the decision based on the individual circumstances.

 

Members asked for an update on Big Picture Learning. It was reported that the Council had engaged the support of XP School in managing the provision. BPL currently operated with a small cohort of students that would be incrementally increased on a year-by-year basis. It was agreed that a written update on the current status of BPL would be circulated to the Committee following the meeting.

 

As there were no further questions the Chair thanked officers for their attendance and responding to Members’ questions.

 

RESOLVED that the Chair and Members of the Overview & Scrutiny Management Committee note the quarter 1 performance and financial information; including;

 

(1)          the changes to the Strategic Risks that are detailed in paragraphs 45-  46 and the Appendix C – Strategic Risks; and

 

            (2)       note the allocations of block budgets in the Capital Programme,                   detailed in the Appendix A – Finance Profile in accordance with               the updated Financial Procedure Rules.

 

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